Zimbabwe Poverty Rate
Poverty headcount ratio at $2.15/day SI.POV.DDAY
Zimbabwe's poverty rate was 49.20% in 2019, ranked 75th globally. This represents a 10.1% increase from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 2011–2019.
Overview
Zimbabwe's poverty rate stood at 49.20% in 2019, a rise of +4.50pp from 2017. Zimbabwe ranked 75th globally.
Zimbabwe’s poverty rate rose from 35.70 % in 2011 to a peak of 49.20 % in 2019, placing the country 75th globally according to the World Bank’s 2019 data. The increase of 13.50 percentage points over eight years reflects a persistent deterioration despite modest economic reforms and a fragile macro‑environment. Compared with peers, Uganda recorded a higher poverty incidence of 59.80 % while Vanuatu’s rate stood at 19.50 %, underscoring the divergent trajectories within the region. The upward trend coincides with periods of hyperinflation, currency instability and reduced agricultural productivity, which together eroded household incomes and limited access to basic services. Structural adjustments, improved fiscal discipline and targeted social safety nets could reverse the trajectory, but without sustained investment in productive sectors the poverty rate is likely to remain elevated in the near term.
Data & projection
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Zimbabwe matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2024. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw poverty rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Zimbabwe's poverty rate was 49.20% in 2019. Ranked 75th globally. This represents a 10.1% increase from the previous year.
Zimbabwe's poverty rate peaked at 49.20% in 2019.
The lowest poverty rate in Zimbabwe was 35.70% in 2011.
Zimbabwe ranks 75th globally in poverty rate as of 2019.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.POV.DDAY. Data sourced from World Bank.
The poverty rate of Zimbabwe in 2019 was 49.20%. This ranks 75th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_zimbabwe_poverty-rate,
title = {Zimbabwe Poverty Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/zimbabwe/poverty-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}